I remember back in the late 80's, some wacko church announced an event for everyone to bring in all of the albums, books, and other evil paraphernalia of that most decadent and horrible of Satanic cultural icons...Mr. Ed.

No really. Mr Ed.

And it was no joke either. The pastor fervently believed that Mr. Ed was sending Satanic messages to kids. A character from a TV show that, even then, had been off the air for 30 years.

And there was a rally and a bonfire, and hundreds of people came, and they all had Mr. Ed junk.

It was at that point that any slender remaining faith I had in the non-idiocy of humanity evaporated.

TV's Vinnie:Daymn! It's been eons since I've heard Patso give one of his classic anti-D&D screeds.

Do people even play D&D anymore?

Absolutely! That and all other kinds of tabletop RPG's. I think he's throwing D&D out there as a generalization, because he probably isn't aware of the existence of Pathfinder, World of Darkness, Ars Magica, and Cthulhu- my favorite. It's how I bond with some of my oldest, closest friends. Sometimes we get nothing done because we're laughing hilariously but it's still social time well spent.

DnD did corrupt the hell out (into?) me. One moment I was an innocent nerd casting a spell, next moment I was a cynical smartass who realized that organized religion is bullshiat--thirty freaking years ago. Seriously, is the clueless old Pharisee's next rant going to be on the corrupting influence of ragtime music?

Remember when there was a moral panic back in the 80s about Ritual Satanic Abuse? I worked in a courthouse once where a psychiatrist was sued for about 5 million bucks between two plaintiffs for planting in their heads that their issues were the result of RSA. In other words, she was even battier than her patients. What's really sad is that the state psychiatric board didn't pull her license even after she lost the lawsuits...

It's really the best D&D movie ever made. (And they may be working on a followup? Can't recall)

They are! It was Kickstartered and fully funded. It's called 'The Gamers: Hands of Fate'.

Wait, what is this awesomeness of which you speak? A good D&D movie?

Dorkness Rising. If you are a gamer and you have a sense of humor about yourself and your buddies, you'll love it. What makes it extra awesome is that the guys who wrote and starred in it are all actual gamers themselves, so it's not like you've got a Big Bang Theory situation where writers are tossing out what they think gamers are like.

TV's Vinnie:Daymn! It's been eons since I've heard Patso give one of his classic anti-D&D screeds.

Do people even play D&D anymore?

Sure do! My group meets basically whenever we can to run 3.5 modules and original content the DM's twisted little mind comes up with. And we're starting up a Deadlands campaign that I'll be running. I look forward to finding creative ways to work MLP references into a horror game.

Are you kidding? Dungeons and Dragons sessions are where I always brought home the most tail and I met my future spouse playing in high school. It may have helped that I was the only woman playing. Yay geeks!

Kibbler:I remember back in the late 80's, some wacko church announced an event for everyone to bring in all of the albums, books, and other evil paraphernalia of that most decadent and horrible of Satanic cultural icons...Mr. Ed.

No really. Mr Ed.

And it was no joke either. The pastor fervently believed that Mr. Ed was sending Satanic messages to kids. A character from a TV show that, even then, had been off the air for 30 years.

And there was a rally and a bonfire, and hundreds of people came, and they all had Mr. Ed junk.

It was at that point that any slender remaining faith I had in the non-idiocy of humanity evaporated.

That was one of the things I loved about RPGs. One of the first acceptable outlets for those who don't follow prescribed gender norms (girl thief).

/and girls in D&D could be seriously badass

True that, my last character was a half-elf female cleric of Wee Jas. took her from 1st to 15th level before the campaign ended. She would have been a fun one to take epic.

Come to think of it, I had a pretty good run of characters that would have been fun to take epic before the campaigns ended for varying reasons, 17th level half-dragon male fighter, 18th level human male swordsage, 15th level Tiefling female swashbuckler who was dubbed the onion slicer, duel wielded a rapier/shortsword combination.

Anyone remember the special on 60 minutes or 20/20 or something in the 80's that proved D&D was a bunch of Satan worshippers? I can't find it on youtube. Anyway, my Mom saw that and wouldn't let me play with my evil Satanist D&D friends in junior high. She thought she was saving my life, but was actually saving my reputation.

These preacher anecdotes are so cliche`, I keep expecting Keving Bacon to dance his way into this thread.

/I dislike preachers more than anyone on here//still not buying it

Then you are a fool.

I LIVED that shiat for 7 years, forced to go to a Pentecostal church and school. The "Pastor" was a fire and brimstone southern baptist trained evangelical. Everything those two folks above said happened to me in one way or another. D&D, ALL rock music, ALL TV shows were satanically inspired and if you listened/played with them you were on your way to burn in hell for all eternity.

Ned Stark:D&D blows. there are much better games out there people. don't roleplay with crap just because its famous crap!

I liked everything up through 3.5....

/ would play Pathfinder if I had the time AND if there were players near me// at least I have my MMOs, but I remember having way more fun with RPGs back in the 80's-early 90's.../// Pat wouldn't approve of my SWTOR character; Sith Inquisitor (Assassin), and Dark-side choices as much as possible...

Absolutely! That and all other kinds of tabletop RPG's. I think he's throwing D&D out there as a generalization, because he probably isn't aware of the existence of Pathfinder, World of Darkness, Ars Magica, and Cthulhu- my favorite. It's how I bond with some of my oldest, closest friends. Sometimes we get nothing done because we're laughing hilariously but it's still social time well spent.

Those inside jokes can be hilarious...Not to mention the looks one can get at a restaurant while a group of middle agers are laughing like nuts and talking about "that time we packed Dan's body in a bag"....

Arachnophobe:Jument: When I was in high school I was very into D&D and other RPGs. At the time there was a media backlash, one of the first ones probably. At the time we had a house cleaner in once a week. One day my Mom said "the house cleaner found your D&D books, she was horrified and told me I need to make you stop playing". I was quite shocked. Then she said "so I fired her".

FarkinHostile:I LIVED that shiat for 7 years, forced to go to a Pentecostal church and school. The "Pastor" was a fire and brimstone southern baptist trained evangelical. Everything those two folks above said happened to me in one way or another. D&D, ALL rock music, ALL TV shows were satanically inspired and if you listened/played with them you were on your way to burn in hell for all eternity.

You know jack shiat about fundamental christian cults. WE do.

I am a novice pastor (I got my bachellors degree but cannot join a church because I will not swear allegiance to a fake leige)